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[Solved] Question about flatpak-related user folders (lemmy.ca)
submitted 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) by pglpm@lemmy.ca to c/linux@programming.dev
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[Solved, see explanation by @Neptr@lemmy.blahaj.zone below.]

I have the same version of Ubuntu (really Kubuntu) installed on two laptops, and also the same programs (debs, flatpaks, some snap) on both; they are almost mirrors.

Today I noticed that the .local/share/flatpak/ directory in one laptop has the following subfolders:

  • db
  • repo

while the homologous directory in the other laptop has these:

  • db
  • repo
  • appstream
  • app
  • runtime
  • exports

I'm just curious: does anyone know what the extra directories in the second laptop are about? The only difference in the flatpaks between the two laptops is with the GPUs: the first has Nvidia, Mesa, Intel; the second only Mesa and Intel (so I would be expecting more directories in the first than in the second, if any...).

Cheers!

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[-] Neptr@lemmy.blahaj.zone 11 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

On the first laptop the missing folders are likely to do with the fact that the Flatpaks are installed as system Flatpaks, therefore installed under /var/lib/flatpak (iirc). Flatpak is configured to let you install them as system wide Flatpak apps, meaning other users on your computer will also see them. It would normally require authentication to do that, but many distros configure it to be easy by default.

The second laptop is installing them as user Flatpaks, meaning the folders (mostly shared libraries, desktop entries, and apps) are stored in the user's home folder.

[-] pglpm@lemmy.ca 3 points 2 weeks ago

It was exactly as you said; a difference I didn't know about. Also confirming that Kubuntu apparently installs them system-side, even if flatpak install ... is called without sudo, again as you inferred. I don't know how I managed to install them user-side in one laptop, but now they mirror each other :)

For others interested, these two commands show the difference, as explained by another user in a cross-post:

flatpak --user list
flatpak --system list

Thank you!

[-] just_another_person@lemmy.world 0 points 2 weeks ago

You just installed or touched other packages that created those directories. Nothing weird about it.

this post was submitted on 07 May 2026
16 points (100.0% liked)

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